I am VERY happy with the Weber Genesis Gold B I bought about five years ago. It just works. There are so many details about it that are both simple and well-constructed. I'm fairly certain I'll never be able to convince myself to buy anything except a Weber in this product category.

Yeah Ken, but you didn't make the connection between the CR report summary that you linked and the Brinkmann grill that I mentioned. The June issue of CR(which I'd read a couple weeks ago)reported on grill tests and ranked the Weber tops for around $700, but also ranked a Brinkmann similar to the one in the Walmart ad(the only difference is that the Walmart one explodes on occasion)as a "Best Buy" for around $200. The link to Walmart was made because it happened to be shown on the site I'd checked on grills, but certainly the Home Depot model should be considered(especially if it's in stock at a local Home Depot)since Craig is looking to spend less.

I have the Weber Genesis S-320 grill as well (natural gas version, connected directly to my gas line), and it is outstanding. The all-stainless steel construction is key. SS just stands up better to time and the elements better than the other materials like enamel. So if you can, do try to step up to one of the models that offers SS parts.

Well I took the plunge...and got the Weber Genesis E-310. The grill is great, the buying experience...not so much. I just posted this rant on yelp.com. Enjoy.

I was in need of a new bbq grill. After extensive research I decided upon a Weber Genesis E310. I was told by more than one person to get it at Home Depot if possible, as they would assemble it for free. I hate putting things together, so I sounded like a great plan.

Saturday, June 28th my bf and I went in and asked for the grill. A friendly gentleman wrote up a little slip of paper with the model number and price and told me to bring it to the cashier. I asked if they indeed had a free assembly service and he said they did, I just needed to tell the cashier.

At checkout I gave the woman the little slip he'd given me and she rang me up. $649. Not a cheap grill. I explained we were going to have them assemble it, and I'd pick it up later. (Monday was the day I was told I could pick it up). She advised that I just needed to come back Monday with my receipt and bring it to "Services" and pointed across the room. No problem. As I walked away, I asked if she'd staple my receipt to the little slip the original guy had given me. She said I wouldn't need it, but gladly stapled them together for me anyway.

When leaving, we were stopped by their door monitor who checks your receipt, and she was a bit puzzled, as I had a receipt but no items. I explained they were going to assemble it, and I'd be picking it up on Monday. She almost marked my receipt with her highlighter, but stopped short, realizing I wasn't really leaving with my item.

I know this may seem like rambling...but it gets better.

On Monday I mooch a ride with my friend back to Home Depot to pick up my grill. (He's got a pickup truck) As we're walking towards "Services" I see my beautiful new grill sitting there in the corner. I hand the woman my receipt and proudly say I'm there to pick up my grill, pointing to the beautiful Weber.

She asks for my phone number and after searching her computer, explains she has no record of my grill. I show her my receipt again, and again point to the grill that's not five feet away. A black Weber Genesis E310...just like I ordered and is on my receipt. Her response?

"How do I know you didn't leave the store on Saturday with your grill?"

Excuse me? Did she just essentially accuse me of stealing a bbq? I asked her to explain...and she did indeed suggest I may have stolen a grill on Saturday. She suggested they'd need to view Saturday's security footage before she could do anything more.

As absurd as that was I offered them a photocopy of my ID. Take my ID, give my my grill and if they see me walking out with a grill on the video, send the cops and come get me. No. She said she couldn't do that.

As I felt my blood pressure rising I realized I needed to speak with someone else. She called for the supervisor.

15 minutes later he shows up and sticks with the same course of action. I can't have my grill or a refund until they can be certain I didn't steal one. They said they needed to have an LP (yeah...LOSS PREVENTION.) specialist review Saturdays security footage, but alas there wasn't one there, so I'd have to come back again tomorrow and let them look at the tape then.

I'm ready to explode at this point. My friend and I are in complete disbelief that they're doing this. My friend goes so far as to ask them to call the police for us. I was going to stop them, as I knew the cops wouldn't want to have anything to do with this, but I figured it'd help my case, showing that I had nothing to hide. I didn't steal a damn grill and I wasn't leaving without either a grill or my money back.

The call to the cops seemed to be enough to let them realize I wasn't going anywhere. Mr. Supervisor then got on his cell phone and called one of his "LP specialists" to come in from home.

After two hours of arguing, we left with an assembled grill.

The simple fact of the matter was a mistake was made in that I was never told by either the cashier or the guard at the door that I needed to go to "Services" BEFORE leaving and fill out forms for a "will call" pickup. Adding to that error, they don't print anything on your receipt indicating that your purchase is to be picked up at a later date. Both issues are easily remedied with better training of their employees and something as simple as a printout on your receipt. When I suggested that to the supervisor as I left, he simply shrugged his shoulders and said "he didn't handle that stuff".

As bad as the mistake was, what made it completely intolerable was the way they handled it, and treated me. I was guilty until proven innocent. NOT the best way to treat a customer. Even after I was proven innocent, they did nothing more then say "OK, you're all set".

Craig, that's horrible how you were treated. I'm normally a patient person, but going through something like that would certainly test my limits. The part that really irks me is that they basically accused you of stealing without any proof. That could open them up to serious problems.

Jeez, that is some story, I was over at Home Depot yesterday looking at the same grill, I think you probably handled the situation better than I would have.Is there a difference between the 310 and the 320? The reason I'm looking is because my wife turned on our DCS grill Sunday to warm it up, forgot about it, it got so hot that the accumulated grease from our last big barbecue (we forgot to clean it ) also caught on fire melting the knobs and frying the electronic ignition. The barbecue is on an upstairs balcony and we only realized it was on fire because a window was open in the house and it set off the smoke alarms. Needless to say she owes me a new grill.

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A computer once beat me at chess, but it was no match for me at kick boxing.